Immigrants held at Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey, continued a hunger strike as outside protesters rallied in solidarity with hundreds of participating detainees.
Participants refused meals to protest conditions of confinement, length of detention, and treatment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement contractors operating the facility.
Advocacy groups documented medical concerns for strikers as days without adequate nutrition accumulate under facility medical monitoring protocols.
Community organizers gathered outside Delaney Hall demanding release of individuals they described as asylum seekers and long-term residents facing removal.
ICE officials stated that detention centers follow national standards for hunger strike management including clinical observation and informed consent procedures.
Similar protests have occurred at other detention sites as enforcement operations expand under administration priorities emphasizing rapid deportations.
Legal representatives filed motions challenging individual detentions while coordinating with strikers on communication restrictions inside the center.
New Jersey politicians issued statements urging humane treatment and transparency about strike rosters and medical interventions employed.
Contractors operating Delaney Hall face scrutiny over staffing ratios, access to legal counsel, and grievance mechanisms available to detainees.
The protest tests balance between agency security protocols and rights claims advanced by detained immigrants and supporting civil society groups.
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Sources:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/27/headlines